What is the purpose of a hand receipt?

• A. To assign accountability for specific items to a user and document the transfer of custody.
• B. To record the disposal of assets from inventory.
• C. To register new vendors.
• D. To audit financial statements.

Answer: (A)

A hand receipt establishes accountability for specific items by assigning them to a named individual and recording the transfer of custody. This creates a clear, traceable link between the property and the person responsible for it, including details like item description, quantity, location, and condition. That accountability ensures the custodian knows their responsibilities for safeguarding, maintaining, and returning the items, and it provides a verifiable trail for inventory checks and potential audits.

Disposal, procurement, and financial audits are handled through other processes. Disposing of assets uses disposal or turn-in paperwork, registering vendors is part of procurement, and auditing financial statements involves broader financial controls—not the transfer of custody for individual property items.